Daily Archives: April 18, 2012

Representatives of Invisible Children, Inc. hosted a viewing of the two-part “Kony 2012″ (2012) film, followed by a question and answer session with a Ugandan national named Quinto, in Collis Common Ground on Tuesday. The “Stop Kony” campaign film spread rapidly on the internet after its March release, reaching over 86 million views in the first 28 days. Invisible Children relies on media to raise awareness about the war in Uganda currently being led by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Invisible Children aims to end the LRA’s policy of using child soldiers, according to its website. Dartmouth students in attendance were urged to join “Cover the Night,” a canvassing campaign that will be held on April 20.

Three intoxicated Yale University seniors harassed members of the Occupy New Haven encampment on Monday, resulting in charges of sixth-degree larceny against one of the students, the New Haven Independent reported. The inebriated students, who identified themselves as members of the football team, marched through the Occupy camp screaming, “We’re the 1 percent!” and expressed dissatisfaction with the Occupy movement, according to the Independent. They knocked over a 60-year-old groundskeeper and ran toward Yale’s Old Campus, where they pushed down a young woman and stole a freshman student’s trophy cup, the Independent reported. Three members of the Occupy encampment chased the students to a fraternity, where they called the Yale and New Haven police.

As initiatives to consolidate and publicize information and data sets become increasingly popular, Colleges are reconsidering the way they allow students to access information online, raising questions of privacy rights, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. While College officials must obey federal student privacy requirements, a government campaign is currently advocating for a “MyData button,” which would make information like student grades more accessible and portable via smart phones and new internet tools. “Scraper” tools that compile student data including statistics on courses, shuttle schedules, test scores, dining menus and degree-planning tools are already in use on some campuses, The Chronicle reported.

Engineering professor emeritus Paul Etienne Queneau, a war veteran who held 36 U.S. patents in metallurgical and chemical engineering, died on March 31 at Kendal Retirement Community in Hanover after suffering from a case of the flu. Queneau was 101 years old.

Queneau joined the Thayer School of Engineering faculty in 1971 and partnered with his former company, International Nickel Company, to endow Thayer’s Paul E. and Joan H. Queneau Distinguished Professorship in Environmental Engineering Design.

Because of his experience in the corporate sector, he offered a link between academia and the “real world,” former Thayer Dean Charles Hutchinson said.

“Paul was an extremely confident and interesting addition to the faculty because he did not come to us in a traditional way,” Hutchinson said. “He had a complete corporate career before joining us and was around 60 when he came to Thayer.”

Queneau invented a number of groundbreaking industrial processes, with patents pertaining to the extraction of nickel, copper, cobalt and lead from ores and concentrates. He was a fellow and president of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society and chairman of the Engineering Foundation. He received an Evans Fellowship from Columbia University and was awarded the university’s Egleston Medal, AIME’s Douglas Gold Medal, the Gold Medal of the British Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Thayer’s Robert Fletcher Award and Chemical Engineering’s Kirkpatrick Award. He was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1981.

Queneau maintained a close relationship with his students, teaching a variety of courses at both introductory and upper levels, according to Hutchinson.

Paul Queneau, Queneau’s son, said that his father was extremely devoted to teaching at Dartmouth.

“He valued his time and his relationship with Dartmouth very much,” he said. “He taught many environment-related courses, as this was an area of great interest for him. He felt very strongly about protecting the environment and working with students as well.”

Queneau was born in 1911 and moved frequently as a child due to his father’s engineering career.

He attended Columbia University during the Great Depression, working as a waiter to help fund his education. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in mineral engineering, he began laboratory work at the International Nickel Company, an alloy plant in Huntington, W.Va.

Following various attempts to join the army, Queneau enlisted after the attack on Pearl Harbor when he appealed directly to the Pentagon.

He graduated from the Army Engineer School and was deployed to Europe with the Corps of Engineers. Queneau was awarded the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Eastern Theater Offensive Ribbon with five battle stars. He returned to the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 1945.

Queneau’s son, Paul Queneau, spoke highly about his father’s legacy.

“He was very proud of his war experience,” Paul Queneau said. “When he began his service, he fought in Normandy, and because he was an engineer, was given the task of constructing many bridges across various rivers. In fact, when I was very young, I asked Dad, What is an engineer?’ His reply: An engineer builds wonderful bridges.'”

In 1949, Queneau explored, mapped and photographed the Perry River region of the Arctic in northern Ontario for the U.S. government. He traveled the region by 13-foot canoe, accompanied by artist and ornithologist Peter Scott and zoologist Harold Hanson. Among other duties, they studied the nesting grounds of the Ross’s goose, which scientists were concerned might be facing extinction. Scott wrote about the trip in his book “Wild Geese and Eskimos: A Journal of the Perry River Expedition of 1949,” which featured Queneau’s photographs.

Queneau worked at the International Nickel Company for 35 years, serving in various posts, including as vice president, technical assistant to the president and assistant to the chairman. During this time, Queneau and author Joseph Boldt wrote “The Winning of Nickel,” a renowned work on nickel recovery and processing.

“My father was very proud of his work at INCO,” Paul Queneau said. “His time there was particularly dear to him because his father, my grandfather, was an engineer who worked with industrial materials as well.”

After retiring from INCO, Queneau earned his doctorate at age 60 from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Queneau and his wife Joan bought a farm near Cornish, N.H., where they spent their free time building ponds, making maple syrup and raising cattle. Queneau was also an avid fly fisherman and a duck hunter.

Queneau is survived by his two children, as well as his brother Bernard Queneau, who will turn 100 in July.

Correction appended

College Provost Carol Folt’s experience with students and faculty, as well as her familiarity with the College’s workings, make her a good choice for the position of interim College president, according to a number of alumni interviewed by The Dartmouth. Her selection will ensure a level of continuity at the College during the transition period, alumni said.

Folt has worked at the College for over 25 years and has held numerous roles as a faculty member and administrator, making her well-suited to take on the interim role.

Alumni pointed to Folt’s understanding of College President Jim Yong Kim’s initiatives as an important asset and said they hope she will continue to carry the initiatives forward.

It was necessary to pick someone that was “intimately involved” in the College administration “to minimize and mitigate the disruption to the College,” Joshua Marcuse ’04 said. Her work with a number of constituencies will also facilitate effective governance, he said.

Folt is equipped with a unique understanding of the president’s approach to College issues, according to Tom Peisch ’70, former president of the Alumni Council and current chair of the alumni liaison committee.

Folt’s appointment did not come as a surprise to many alumni, who said they assumed she would be the interim president due to her current position as the second-highest ranking College administrator and her close relationship with Kim.

These characteristics made Folt “the obvious way to go,” Rachel Ciprotti ’02 said.

While most alumni offered positive opinions about Folt’s nomination, some expressed frustration with the decision.

“Views on Dr. Folt as dean of the faculty were mixed during my time on campus, and the sense of inevitability that surrounded her appointment to the presidency was a bit discouraging,” Kevin Hudak ’07 said.

By eliminating herself as a potential permanent presidential candidate, Folt made it “clear that her focus is on keeping the College running and not qualifying for a new job,” Pete Frederick ’65 said. Her announcement means that there is “no question of hidden agendas,” Frederick said.

Folt will provide a positive source of continuity during the College’s transition, according to Joe Scott ’00.

Association of Alumni President John Daukas ’84 said Folt has the benefit of being “well-versed” in the culture of the College, having served in a variety of positions.

While most alumni expressed confidence in Folt’s ability to be an effective interim president, many said she should focus on continuing current initiatives rather than implementing new programs.

An interim presidency is “not a time to introduce new initiatives, but keep things running,” Frederick said.

Former president of the Association of Alumni John Mathias ’69 said the function of an interim president is to “keep the waters calm” rather than to set “a new course” for the College.

Folt’s primary concern should be ensuring stability, even if this means “resisting the temptation” to make key decisions, according to Marcuse.

Potential presidential candidates will look to Folt when considering whether or not they wish to take on the role of College president, Marcuse said.

Folt “knows all the ropes” and is “perfectly positioned” to take on the role of acting president, according to Mathias. Alumni Council President Danielle Dyer ’81 agreed that her awareness about the College’s institutional structure will be an advantage during her tenure as interim president.

Relations with the faculty are an important part of the presidency, and Folt’s prior experience as a faculty member and dean of the faculty make her well-suited to the role, Mathias said.

As a former professor at the College, Folt has a unique understanding of the student body, according to Dyer.

“She taught and mentored hundreds of students,” she said.

Folt is a strong supporter of the College’s emphasis on undergraduate students and of its role as a research institution, and she knows Dartmouth’s recent history well, Susanne Kandel ’00 said in an email to The Dartmouth.

“She brings both institutional memory, having helped the College through the financial crisis, and, as a leader in the strategic planning process, a vision for the future,” she said.

That Folt will be the first female president also marks a “good development” for the College, Mathias said.

“She has to make the position look attractive,” he said.

Alumni praised Folt for her past achievements, including navigating the College through financial troubles, creating the Strategic Planning Steering Committee with Kim and being one of the first faculty members involved in the Women in Science program.

“As dean of the faculty, [Folt] led the drive to attract and retain an outstanding faculty by bringing arts and sciences faculty compensation to the level of peer institutions,” Alumni Council president-elect Martin Lempres ’84 said in an email to The Dartmouth.

President of the Alumni in Entertainment and Media Association Jethro Rothe-Kushel ’03 said Folt’s academic background and commitment to interdisciplinary education make her a strong appointee.

Class of 1994 representative Grant Bosse ’94 said that the speed with which the Board of Trustees made its decision was somewhat alarming.

“There has not been a lot of time to process the choice,” he said.

Ciprotti said she believes it is important to “put faith in the Board” when a decision has to be made so quickly and that she remains optimistic about the trustees’ choice.

Folt’s appointment “gives the board flexibility” to take the time it needs to conduct a proper search for the next president, Uriel Barrera-Vasquez ’98 said.

Dyer said she hopes Folt will continue fostering the dialogue regarding high-risk drinking and associated behaviors begun by Kim.

Scott is a former member of The Dartmouth Senior Staff.

**The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Folt founded the Women in Science program when in fact she was one of the first faculty members involved.*

College President Jim Yong Kim’s election to World Bank presidency has created a maelstrom in media outlets worldwide, as commentators with varied opinions have emerged to consider issues ranging from Kim’s credentials to the Bank’s selection process. While some view Kim as inexperienced and unprepared, others said he will provide a unique worthwhile perspective at the Bank.

The voting process for the Bank’s presidency is weighted according to the share each country holds in the institution. The United States and Japan, the two largest stakeholders, and Western Europe all endorsed and voted for Kim, while most countries in Africa and South America supported Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Global news outlets have also drawn attention to the United States’ monopoly on the World Bank presidency.

“Kim’s appointment maintains Washington’s grip on the multinational institution tasked with combating global poverty since its founding after World War II,” an article in the China Daily News said.

In an opinion column published in The Australian on Wednesday, Australian National University professor Ramesh Thakur criticized the selection process, which he said favors wealth over effective leadership.

“When the rubber hits the road, all the fine talk of good governance, merit-based selection of chief executives and transparent decision-making flies out the window,” he said in the column. “Good governance is for suckers, trumped always by wealth and power.”

John Briscoe, an environmental engineering and health professor at Harvard University, said that Kim’s election is a “sad reflection” of the U.S. government’s relationship with the rest of the world.

Unlike past elections, this year’s contest was a “big deal” because many countries resisted pressure from the U.S. in their endorsements, Briscoe said.

Kim’s relative lack of experience in economics and governance made Okonjo-Iweala more qualified for the position, according to Briscoe.

“He is basically a physician that ran a small non-governmental organization,” Briscoe said. “Partners in Health is small in the world and only deals with one thing: delivering medicine. The World Bank is very wide and covers many issues over many nations. People who have been effective in the World Bank have had that background and experience.”

Lawrence MacDonald, vice president of communications and policy outreach at the Center for Global Development, also noted in an interview with The Dartmouth that Kim’s skill set is not perfectly tailored to his new position.

“Kim has a strong record in one aspect of global development: health,” he said. “Even though it is an important issue, it is a small subset of the issues the bank is involved in. Whether Kim can take his experience in global health and apply it in many other issues, like finance, education, infrastructure that remains to be seen.”

MacDonald also said that Kim’s past as an anthropologist may be more of a challenge than a benefit, especially in taking the Bank in a new direction that faces truly international issues, such as climate change

“Kim’s different background may mean that he can lead the bank in a new direction, but it can also mean he can have a slow and difficult time understanding the challenges of the bank,” he said.

The selection of Kim over Okonjo-Iweala has caused a stir on the African continent, particularly in South Africa, the nation that nominated Okonjo-Iweala for the Bank post. South Africa holds one of only three seats on the World Bank board occupied by an African country.

In an interview published on Independent Online, a South African news outlet, Cornell University economist and former International Monetary Fund official Eswar Prasad said the Bank’s selection of Kim “reflects how global governance continues to lag behind changing economic realities.”

“Emerging-market economies are increasingly dominant in global trade, finance and output, but the advanced economies continue to maintain their positions of privilege at major international financial institutions,” Prasad said.

In an article published in Bloomberg Businessweek, South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan expressed his concern with the process, which he said “falls short” of its claims of being merit-based and will likely be reformed.

“It’s no longer in the smoke-filled rooms of Europe and the United States that the spoils are shared,” Gordhan said.

At a summit in Abuja, Nigeria, Okonjo-Iweala said she lost the contest to world powers due to their inordinate influence in the voting process, which should strive to become more transparent.

“I want people to know what is happening,” she said in an interview with The Nigerian Daily. “This thing is not really being decided on merit, it is voting with political weights and shares and therefore the U.S. will get it.”

Representatives from Oxfam International, an international confederation that aims to combat global poverty and injustice, also expressed skepticism about the process that placed Kim in the presidential seat. Elizabeth Stuart, head of Oxfam International’s office in Washington, D.C. said the process is a “sham” that “sullied” Kim’s appointment.

“Dr. Kim is an excellent choice for World Bank president and a true development hero,” she said in a statement published on Oxfam’s website. “But we’ll never know if he was the best candidate for the job, because there was no true and fair competition. The world deserved better than a selection process with a forgone conclusion.”

In the Asian sphere, Japan and China endorsed Kim, as did his native South Korea.

Kim’s nomination constitutes a victory for all minorities, Seoul National University professor Kim Seong-kon said in an opinion column published in The Korea Herald, a South Korean English-language newspaper.

MacDonald said that this election process was a step in the right direction in terms of transparency and fairness.

“The selection process was more important and competitive than ever before it was the first time with more than one nominee, and the board interviewed each nominee at length,” he said. “This is a huge amount of progress in opening up the election process. The old system where the U.S. chose one candidate and the board voted up or down, and always up … is gone, but there is no new system to replace it.”

Rwandan columnist Arthur Asilmwe said in an opinion column in The New Times that Kim’s credentials make his election a positive step forward for the Bank. Rwanda was one of the few African nations that endorsed Kim in the selection process.

“Since its inception in 1944, the World Bank has largely been governed by a politician or a celebrated Wall Street banker or economist who thinks the most remote part of the world is in Alaska or Southwest Colorado,” Asilmwe wrote. “None, at least out of the last 11 presidents, has had a firsthand experience of the real challenges that face the developing world and for which the Bank largely serves.”

Kim’s nomination came as a response to a burgeoning demand for change, he said in the column.

“His 30 years of experience as both an implementer in some of the world’s poorest communities, as well as a global policymaker and academic, make him an ideal candidate who might silence even the most vocal critics of U.S.’ dominance of the bank,” Asilmwe said. “Dr. Kim has rubbed shoulders with the poor, mingled with the most destitute and sought sustainable solutions for some of their problems.”

While many students said that College Provost Carol Folt’s experience at Dartmouth will serve her well as interim president, most were unfamiliar with Folt and unable to comment on whether she will fulfill the role of College president effectively. A majority of students interviewed said Folt should make visibility on campus a priority during her tenure as interim president.

On Tuesday, the Board of Trustees appointed Folt as Dartmouth’s interim president following the Monday selection of College President Jim Yong Kim as head of the World Bank.

Those students who were familiar with Folt’s background and work at the College said she is a fitting pick for the position and will be able to effectively manage the College.

President’s Intern Jason Goodman ’12 said that Folt will be able to maintain the current “momentum” of the administration’s priorities moving forward and that the continuity of leadership is beneficial for the College.

“Selecting Folt was a very logical and wise choice from the Board,” Goodman said. “It is going to be a very easy transition for Folt because she has worked with the same people every day and will continue to work with them. As interim president, you do not have a lot of time to be established into your position, but Folt doesn’t need it.”

Palaeopitus Senior Society moderator Christian Brandt ’12 said Folt is well-prepared for the post due to her experience in both the academic and strategic planning aspects of the College.

“It’s important for an interim president to know what’s happening at Dartmouth, and Folt definitely does,” he said, citing Folt’s work as dean of the faculty and her many years at Dartmouth. “She will be able to hold down the fort during the transition and search committee process well. She was also a part of the administration when the College was last looking for a president, so that’s another positive factor to consider.”

Inter-Community Council co-chair Chris O’Connell ’13 said he was not surprised by Folt’s selection and expects that Folt will aim to keep the College in a “stable and welcoming” position to receive the next president.

“I think she is really receptive to feedback from students and working with students to address concerns and devise solutions,” O’Connell said. “I hope she’ll voice the need to incorporate a multitude of student voices, instead of just one student member as the College did in 2008, in the presidential search committee.”

Will Kuzma ’14 said he did not have strong reactions to the pick, largely due to a lack of familiarity with Folt’s background and an inability to judge her leadership capabilities.

Bukola Badipe-Hart ’15 said she felt similarly unqualified to comment on Folt’s qualifications.

“I read about her today, and I know that she was a biology professor, but I wish I knew more about her,” she said.

As a freshman, Tara Roudi ’15 said she is not familiar with Folt’s background or accomplishments.

“I’m a ’15, so I don’t really know who she is,” she said. “Other people I was with when the news broke were not surprised it was Folt, but I honestly cannot speak to how she will perform as president.”

Undergraduate Finance Committee chair Rohail Premjee ’14 said he expected Folt, who is equipped with the necessary institutional memory for the position, to be selected for the interim post.

Prior to becoming provost in May 2010, Folt served as acting provost, dean of the faculty of arts and sciences, associate dean of the faculty for interdisciplinary programs, dean of graduate studies and the associate director of Dartmouth’s interdisciplinary Superfund Basic Research Program. She joined the Dartmouth faculty in the biology department in 1983.

“I was expecting it to be Folt because she seemed to be next in line,” Alexander Tejeda ’12 said. “She clearly knows Dartmouth well.”

Christina Herron ’12 said she supported the College’s decision to select an interim president from within the Dartmouth community, particularly from within the sciences.

“It’s particularly exciting for me because I’m a biology major, so I appreciate that it’s someone again who understands the importance of research and the sciences,” she said.

As part of the College’s announcement, Folt said she will not be considered for the permanent position.

Folt is fit for the interim presidency but would bring “too much baggage” to a permanent presidential role, Brandt said.

“There were times that she clashed with faculty members and student organizations in the past, but she is generally the most in the know, so in that aspect she will be good,” Brandt said.

Premjee said that Folt should work to increase communication between the administration and students during her time as interim president.

“Folt has been criticized in the past for not being transparent enough, and oftentimes she doesn’t advertise or let people know what she has done,” he said. “It may be hard for Folt to get her voice across campus.”

Folt must make an effort to work with students directly, utilizing outlets such as Student Assembly during her tenure, according to Premjee.

Kuzma also said that Folt should focus on building a strong relationship between the President’s Office and the greater student body.

“Kim’s legacy with students is not the best, and I think [Folt] can address this issue and work with students to create a better rapport overall,” he said. “I hope she is a real presence on campus.”

Goodman said he predicts that Folt will continue to work on many of the same issues and initiatives that Kim focused on during his time at the College, including responsibilities related to alumni relations, faculty recruitment and fundraising.

“The president’s job is to look out for the institution as a whole and to continue the trajectory for the College at a very high level,” he said. “I also hope that she will do a good job of reaching out to a variety of constituencies, including students.”

Correction appended

Although faculty members expressed generally positive views of Provost Carol Folt’s appointment as Dartmouth’s interim president, many said her role will primarily involve maintaining programs already in place and making Dartmouth seem attractive to candidates for the full-time position.

Folt’s familiarity with the College and experience as provost and dean of the faculty make her qualified for the position of interim president, according to former Associate Dean of the Faculty for the Arts and Humanities Katharine Conley.

“She knows this institution in and out,” Conley said. “She’s had extensive contact with every key person connected to the institution.”

Dean of the Tuck School of Business Paul Danos, who also serves on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, of which Folt is chair, said Folt is “as qualified as anyone could be.”

“She’s done a marvelous job keeping all the various proponents of the strategic plan moving ahead,” Danos said.

History professor Walter Simons said that Folt, a former biology professor, is capable of addressing tension between the administration and faculty.

“What is important for the acting president is to ensure confidence of the faculty in the administration,” Simons said. “I think she can, in large part because of her knowledge of the College and experience in the administration.”

Other faculty members, however, expressed criticism of Folt’s tenure at the College.

A professor who wished to remain anonymous due to the nature of his comments said that Folt’s reputation as a micro-manager may hinder her effectiveness.

“Her administrative style is top-down, and she consults only after the fact on her own terms,” he said. “She’s not collegial in terms of administrative style.”

Numerous professors said they expect Folt to continue the initiatives started under College President Jim Yong Kim’s administration.

“Really trying to carry forward some of the things that President Kim started and completing the strategic planning process will be at the top of her agenda,” biology professor Michael Dietrich said.

It is difficult for interim presidents to implement new proposals, and Folt will likely focus on continuing processes already underway, according to film and media studies professor Amy Lawrence.

Folt will also face a host of student issues at the College.

“It’s hard to imagine how many balls you have to keep juggling for a job like president of Dartmouth,” economics professor Jonathan Skinner.

Chair of the women and gender studies program Annabel Martin said hazing, binge drinking and sexual assault, along with strategic planning, are especially urgent issues for the president to address.

“The strategic planning is key for the future of the institution but the culture of Dartmouth also needs to be addressed simultaneously because it is the environment in which students live,” she said.

Conley said that Folt cares “a lot” about students at Dartmouth, having fostered and maintained long-term relationships with students even after joining the administration.

According to the professor who wished to remain anonymous, however, student concerns are neither Folt’s interest nor strength.

“One of the students’ concerns with President Kim is that he didn’t get to know or appreciate the student role on campus,” he said. “I think you’re going to have the same problem with Carol Folt.”

Danos said he hopes that the strategic planning process will accomplish its goals over the next year.

Biology professor Robertson McClung said he hopes the fiscal concerns addressed by Kim will not return in another period of “budgetary belt-tightening.”

Folt should take advantage of the new Geisel School of Medicine endowment during her tenure as an opportunity for growth and change, according to McClung.

“Doing that in a way that enhances the rest of the institution represents a big opportunity, and I think something of interest to Folt,” he said.

Folt said she will not be a candidate for the Dartmouth presidency beyond the interim period.

The faculty “generally are willing to accept her as interim president but would be reluctant to accept her as president,” according to one of the professors who wished to remain anonymous.

A social sciences professor who wished to remain anonymous said that, by removing her name from the pool of considered candidates, Folt is expanding the potential list of external applicants.

“Had she kept her name in contention as president, she would be a very viable candidate, and because of this would scare off potential applicants who would view the saelection process as an inside job,” he said.

**The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Katharine Conley is the current associate dean of the faculty for the arts and humanities when in fact she is the former associate dean of the faculty for the arts and humanities.*

The Board of Trustees appointed College Provost Carol Folt as Dartmouth’s interim president following the Monday selection of College President Jim Yong Kim as head of the World Bank, Folt said on Tuesday. Kim will step down on June 30 after less than three years in office, the second shortest presidential tenure in College history. Folt will begin as interim president on July 1.

Folt, who is Dartmouth’s chief academic officer and the second-highest ranking College administrator, assumed the role of provost in 2009 after three years of serving as dean of the faculty. Her appointment marks the first time a woman has held the College’s top leadership position.

Folt said she is “honored and humbled” to lead the College as it begins the search for a new president and intends to draw on her experience as a faculty member and researcher to bring various groups together during decision-making processes.

“I have a pretty broad understanding of the kind of intensity and passion that people bring to this job,” Folt said. “To be put in this position and to be able to help build a positive thrust forward is something I take very seriously and that I’m looking forward to.”

Folt’s name will not be considered in the search process for a permanent president, enabling her to focus on the interim role, she said. An acting provost will be announced next week.

Folt received strong backing from all senior College administrators, according to Chairman of the Board of Trustees Stephen Mandel ’78. The Board rejected the idea of selecting an interim president external to the College ranks in facilitate a seamless transition.

“A large part of being successful in the interim role is having institutional knowledge and understanding how to get things done,” Mandel said.

In 2010, Folt began working with Kim to lead the College’s strategic planning process, which aims to support faculty, strengthen the College’s curriculum and improve student education in the wake of budget cuts and administrative restructuring.

Folt’s main priority as interim president will be to finish the strategic planning process as part of the long-term vision to maintain Dartmouth’s status as a preeminent institution, she said.

Committees led by faculty and deans have collaborated to target the College’s strengths and consider ways by which the College can improve its role as a visionary institution, Folt said. Among the topics these committees will continue to address are “pedagogy of the future” and the development of positive environments for scholarly innovation, she said.

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee, of which Folt and Kim are co-chairs, aims to approve all final recommendations from seven strategic planning working groups by December 2012.

Folt and Chief Financial Officer Steven Kadish led Dartmouth’s efforts to resolve the College’s $100-million budget gap under Kim’s direction, according to a College press release.

When she assumed the position of provost, Folt replaced Barry Scherr, one of several high-level administrators to leave the College in 2009. She has served as a senior administrator since 2001, when she was named dean of graduate studies. In 2004, she was appointed dean of the faculty of arts and sciences and in 2006 became dean of the faculty. She began teaching at the College in 1983.

Folt’s appointment comes on the heels of a series of resignations of female administrators, primarily in the Office of Pluralism and Leadership. In March, Nora Yasumura resigned from her post as assistant dean and advisor to Asian and Asian-American students. Former advisor to black students Samantha Ivery, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Students Colleen Larimore ’85 and former Acting Dean of the College Sylvia Spears all resigned last winter.

Kim applauded the Board’s appointment of Folt as interim president and her “sure leadership and intimate knowledge” of the College’s workings will facilitate her success.

“She is committed to strengthening Dartmouth’s mission of education and research in order to prepare students and future generations of students for a rapidly changing world,” he said in the press release.

Folt’s tenure as dean of the faculty received some criticism from prominent professors.

Jon Appleton, a former music professor at Dartmouth, previously told The Dartmouth that Folt was an “ineffective” administrator and that she contributed to a decline in the intellectual atmosphere at the College. Appleton called Folt a “puppet” whose sole interest was her “career in administration.”

Biology professor Roger Sloboda, however, lauded Folt’s achievements in her six years as dean of the faculty.

“She was a very strong proponent of strong teaching and research, always looking out for faculty salaries and benefits,” he said. “She was a good representative of the faculty in discussion with administration. She’s not the kind of person to advertise everything she’s doing and brag about it.”

Folt has also been met with disapproval from some undergraduates, who criticized the disconnect between the administration and students. Folt said she will have an “open door” policy for those who want to improve communication between the administration and the community.

“We need to talk to each other and appreciate that there are different viewpoints on how to achieve important goals,” she said. “We need to spend time listening in the buildup to a new president.”

Mandel said that the president’s role has always been a difficult one, with a range of responsibilities that must be addressed simultaneously.

“I think Provost Folt is extremely aware of the need to balance those things: to be accessible and out in front of students, to be in faculty’s classrooms and labs, to be visible to alumni and to manage the institution,” Mandel said.

The Board of Trustees will announce the chair of the presidential search committee that will select the College’s 18th president on Thursday, according to Mandel, who said he expects the search process to go smoothly given the short time since the last search and the resolution of the Board’s internal political issues. During the search for Kim, the Board struggled with a divided alumni base and a dispute over Board membership, issues that Mandel said have been resolved.

Kim’s background in medicine and health made him an unconventional College president and the College may attract a diverse pool of applicants in this year’s search as a result, Mandel said.

“Typically candidates come from the ranks of academia,” Mandel said. “I think the fact that President Kim was an out-of-the-box candidate will enrich the pool of people we have this time.”

The Board will continue to act “quickly and decisively” in this period of abrupt change to ease the transition between presidents, according to Mandel.

“We’re moving quickly with the search and making other senior leaders of the College feel supported in their roles to lower the level of anxiety,” he said. “It’s important to bring that level of confidence and certainty to people at a time when the leader of the institution is leaving in a manner that was not planned.”

An expert on metal toxicity, Folt has explored the effects of mercury and arsenic on human health, salmon restoration and global climate change in her academic career. In 2010, Folt was named to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Folt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aquatic biology and a master’s degree in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She received a PhD from the University of California, Davis.

HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones,” based on George R. R. Martin’s book series “The Song of Ice and Fire,” returned to television three weeks ago. Co-created by Dartmouth’s own David Benioff ’92, the fantasy series tells the complex story of a medieval kingdom marked by corruption, adultery, betrayal and violence. Now in it’s second season, the show will follow the plot of the second book in Martin’s series, “A Clash of Kings.” Aptly named, the book deals with the formation of six different factions, each battling for control of the fictional kingdom.

So far, the new season has been characterized by graphic violence and sex, much like the first season and HBO shows in general. A new, rather disconcerting trend of the season, however, is the murder of at least one child in each episode. This week’s episode, “What Is Dead May Never Die,” featured a particularly gory instance of child murder. Having read the books, I thought I would be desensitized to everything the TV show threw at me, but nothing can really prepare you for watching someone stick a sword through the throat of a little boy. It should be noted that this show is not for the weak-stomached.

“What Is Dead May Never Die” also introduced two new characters to the already large cast. The theme of this week’s new characters was evidently strong women. First, we meet Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), who recently married Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony), the brother of the late king and one of the contenders for the throne. Dormer is well-known for her role as Anne Boleyn in “The Tudors.” It is revealed that although they seem like a happily married couple, Renly has not yet consummated the marriage because he is actually in love with Margaery’s brother Loras, played by Finn Jones.

This plot development allows Margaery’s true nature to reveal itself. Although the show generally stays faithful to the books, one significant deviation is the further development of Margaery’s character. It generally annoys me when an adaptation differs significantly from the book on which it is based, but I didn’t mind this alteration because it allowed for the greater use of Dormer’s talents, and I hope they continue to feature her in further episodes.

In the book, it is hinted that Margaery is more clever and conniving than the innocent maiden she appears to be, but this is never fully proven. The show, however, presents her as a strong, ambitious character. Although I found it extremely awkward, for instance, when Margaery acknowledged that she knows about Renly’s affair with her brother, the awkwardness is immediately overshadowed by her advice to Renly to do whatever it takes to secure his claim to the throne.

The second new character introduced in this week’s episode is Brienne of Tarth, played by Gwendoline Christie. Although she is of noble blood, Brienne has cast off all expectations of her status and is a fierce warrior. This is evidenced by the fact that she wins a combat tournament, besting all of her male competitors. As a reward for her triumph, Renly appoints her as one of his personal guards, much to the chagrin of the other male guards. It is not hard to see why I consider Brienne a strong female character. She does not play a significant role in the episode, yet she makes a lasting impression.

My favorite parts of “What Is Dead May Never Die” were any scenes with Tyrion, played by Peter Dinklage, who is superb in the role and conveys his dry humor and wit perfectly. Known for his wit and intelligence, Tyrion certainly lives up to his reputation in this episode. At one point, he wishes to discover whom amongst his acquaintances spies for his sister Queen Cersei, played by Lena Headey. To do so, he tells each suspected spy that he plans to marry the queen’s daughter off to a different person, and then waits to see which person the queen believes the princess will marry. The mole, Voila, is thus revealed.

Although the pace of “What Is Dead May Never Die” was a bit slow, the action-packed ending more than made up for it. Even though I have read the books and theoretically should know what happens, the show has me hooked, and I can’t wait to see what next week’s episode will bring.

A few days ago I was getting ready to write this review on the new and pretty darn outstanding debut album, called “My Head Is An Animal,” of the Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men. It was right up my slightly indie, easy-to-listen-to music taste alley, and if you haven’t checked it out yet please do, it’s great.

What changed in these few days, however, was something I frankly wasn’t prepared for: the once “underground” and unsigned hip-hop/rap artist Hoodie Allen released his first major EP, “All American,” and got me totally hooked.

“All American,” which jumped to No. 1 on the American music charts in just over 24 hours, is an upbeat and slightly old-school album in which Allen, whom I had always thought of as being a bit of an unorthodox but interestingly original artist, takes his music to a level few thought he would.

The EP features Allen, originally Steve Markowitz, crooning to his listeners with smooth hooks and effortless lyrics. In the brief two-year span Markowitz has been producing and making music under his clever and fun pseudonym, he has amassed a bit of a cult following, all of whom, including myself, seem incredibly supportive of the new EP. Prior to the new hit album, Allen had been making most of his tracks by rapping over sampled hooks from other songs or artists. Although he has definitely changed his original style to adapt to a broader audience, the success of his new endeavor makes it hard to critique the revamped and more mainstream feel of “All American.”

Every song on the EP, which was created in just five months, is completely original and therefore a little more refreshing than his older discography.

I’m not going to say the somewhat pop-oriented, hip-hop music that Allen seems to master in “All American” is necessarily my kind of music, but nevertheless, I’ve found myself drawn to all eight songs on the EP. Although “No Interruption,” which was released as a single two weeks prior to the album’s debut on iTunes, seems to be the headlining and catchiest track, other personal favorites include “No Faith in Brooklyn” and “Eighteen Cool.”

“No Faith in Brooklyn,” a nostalgic track about leaving home and starting a new and very different life, is a slower but still incredibly catchy and well-composed song situated right in the heart of the album. “Eighteen Cool” is an early song on the album and definitely the most upbeat and easy listening track on “All American,” even if the subject may not be as upbeat. The song is an ode to the “dudes back in high school” who “peaked at 18.” With comical and clever lyrics “In America, doing what we love and we passionate your girl is cashing in, Kourtney Kardashian” Allen sets himself up for a mainstream audience who apparently and justifiably fell right for him.

Although the EP is a great listen and deserving of its brief stint at the top of the billboard charts, the story of Allen’s rise to greatness is just as interesting and catchy as the album itself.

Markowitz attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied finance and marketing, but throughout his college career he wrote and performed music, which by his junior and senior years got him serious attention from music websites such as hypem.com. After graduating from Penn in 2010, he went to work for Google as an associate in a training program and released his extremely popular mixtape “You Are Not a Robot” while employed there. Since then, he has gained popularity at an alarming rate, and, as shown by the success of “All American,” is an artist still with a ton of potential.

With rumors of a new mixtape on the way, I’m looking forward to hearing what’s next for Allen, but if you haven’t heard “All American,” it is a must-listen for what’s shaping up to be a spring filled with a lot of time and warm weather, and therefore music on the Green.

Internalizing the idea of community at Dartmouth is difficult, to say the least. We are exposed to so many communities every day, from Greek organizations to sports teams to residential halls. While our affiliations to these groups are incredibly worthwhile and meaningful, we run the risk of leaving out countless individuals by forgetting that together, we are also committed to a larger group on campus the Dartmouth community at large.

Take Back the Night, a campus-wide march and rally against violence including sexual, physical and verbal violence is taking place today. Participating in this movement is perhaps one of the most important things you can do this week, this term or this year. Marching in solidarity with survivors of assault sends a powerful message of support and unity that reverberates around campus. This physical and visceral movement is about more than just marching and protesting. It is about creating the Dartmouth community that we originally signed up for.

A few days ago, I sat down with organizers of Take Back the Night, including Anneliese Sendax, and performers in Undue Influence, who will be performing a dance piece about assault. Sendax commented that as a survivor of assault, she felt the movement last year was able to transcend the traditional support system afforded to survivors. “You can have your five best friends hug you all you want, but having people who don’t even know you walk with you is incredible,” she said. “It felt like I was part of a real community.”

Lending such physical support, such visible support, can be taxing and strenuous. After all, assault is absolutely horrifying. As a defense mechanism, people turn to denial and apathy when in fact they should be turning toward each other. From Bored@Baker posts poking fun of sexual assault and victims to general comments about the apparent lack of sexual assault on campus, this unnerving “assault” on victims post-assault needs to end.

People have spoken out against the walk in past years, arguing that the walk places unnecessary blame on innocent bystanders. However, Dani Levin, last year’s organizer of Take Back the Night, said that these critics are not disdainful of the event itself but rather “experiencing discomfort with the recognition of each of their roles in allowing, tacitly approving and sometimes even outright committing acts of violence.”

Often, we try to address issues on this campus by doing little more than just talking about them. We create panels and organize forums, but at the end of the day, the people participating in these discussions are only those who are already aware of the problems. Take Back the Night seeks to do something different. The march is a public and physical action at its core, as well as an invitation to all of the Dartmouth community to take part. As Levin points out, “The march, as a deliberate and active event, highlights the destructiveness of passivity.”

When it comes to sexual assault, women are not the only victims; there isn’t a gender divide. Everyone on this campus men, women or otherwise are victims by virtue of being part of a community and not taking action against systemic violence. You become a victim when atrocities occur to individuals around you and instead of standing up you sit down, claiming to be just an observer in this tragedy of tragedies.

It is not possible to be an innocent bystander in your own community. In living here and actively taking part in the culture, we must take ownership of the events occurring around us. As Genevieve Mifflin, a performer in Undue Influence, notes, these events that draw attention to sexual assault are not about placing blame, but rather about “taking ownership of the space you inhabit and truly being proud of that space in a productive manner.” If we cannot be proud of our community and the events that occurred during our few short years here, then what is the moral takeaway from our experience in these hallowed halls?

Dartmouth is our space. It is what we all have in common on this campus and in this town, never mind different identities, opinions and perceptions. Take Back the Night is our time to come together and lend physical support to not just a cause, but our community. Should we walk hand in hand, surrounded by strength, surrounded by unity, perhaps then we can finally take back Dartmouth once and for all.